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Marion Centre mall pushes to attract new tenants

John Jarvis
Published 8:15 p.m. ET Aug. 19, 2014

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Mall walker Hollis Whittington says he is pleased with the repairs and renovations at Marion Centre mall, which are nearly complete following a January water main break that flooded a large portion of the mall’s north end.
(Photo: Bill Sinden/The Marion Star)Buy Photo

MARION – Marion Centre mall is wooing new tenants with promises to “meet and beat all reasonable lease rates,” as it recovers from flooding that temporarily closed a portion of the shopping center in January, Debbie Rowland said.

“We were getting ready to do quite a bit of leasing, then this happened,” said Rowland, Marion Centre marketing and sales supervisor.

On Jan. 16, an SUV crashed into a fire hydrant, leading to flooding that damaged the north end of the mall and temporarily closed a few stores, including Sears, which reopened about Feb. 1.

Currently, about 18 tenants occupy about one-third of the retail spaces available in Marion Centre, most recently including Classic Driving Academy, WWGH Radio Station 107.1 FM, WellCare and Player Two Arcade.

The mall blocked off about 10 storefronts as inspections and repairs were completed following the flooding, Rowland said. Workers a month ago removed a partition that was placed in front of Sears and Centre Cinemas, which she said had reduced sales at the cinemas.

She said customers had access to the multiscreen movie theater, but the partition discouraged some, requiring them to enter from the mall’s main entrance rather than a northern entrance across from the theater’s front doors.

Potential tenants have begun to inquire about leasing space in the mall since the removal of the interior barriers, she said.

“We’re finally getting to the point to make a big push again,” she said, adding that the building’s current tenants have all renewed their leases.

She said Marion Centre Mall Realty’s owners are attempting to attract family-friendly businesses such as pet stores and toy stores, and are working to have a couple of restaurants open inside the mall.

Pausing during a lap along the interior walkways of the shopping center, Hollis Whittington said he was glad to see the partitions come down.

“It’s good, it’s nice,” he said, “especially for the cinemas.”

Whittington is one of a number of people who regularly walk inside the mall.

“I retired eight years ago from Whirlpool,” he said. “... I’ve got to do something. Walking is my outlet.”

Chuck Iacobucci, Marion Centre manager, said replacement of the exterior walkway at the mall entrance in front of Sears is the “next phase in the improvement of this area. We’re getting quotes. We’re hoping it’s before winter.”

“I really think we can get it back,” she said, adding that in addition to pursuing tenants for the open storefronts, the mall encourages “anybody wanting to open a second location” to talk to mall management about a lease.

She encouraged anyone who has ideas or leads for potential tenants to call the mall office at 740-389-5785 or her at 937-903-7709.